Barry Corr admitted that he considered hanging his boots up after his latest spate of injuries at Cambridge United.

The Irishman came off the bench to net twice against Stevenage at the weekend but, despite the adulation from the fans at full time, it hasn't been the easiest of 18 months.

Injury concerns led to his contract not being renewed in the summer, but he managed to regain fitness to be awarded a another chance on a non-contract basis in January, before putting pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at the Abbey for the rest of the season.

But it's still a balancing act for the 32-year-old. For every appearance he makes, his body pays the price for days afterwards and after featuring for 90 minutes against Lincoln in February, he picked up an injury in the next match against Grimsby Town and seven fixtures passed before he played again against Exeter.

And more importantly, for a man who has been in the game for 16 years, the past year has seen him somewhat cut adrift. Without a team for the first time in his career, after getting further surgery on his groin over the summer, he conceded that, at times, he didn't know what to do with himself.

"It's been such a long time, it's been so difficult at the start of the season," he said.

"When I was out and didn't have a club, it was the first time in my career when I was sitting at home and I didn't know what to do with myself and it was really, really difficult actually.

"I knew I wanted to get back out on the pitch and it's great to be back.

"I'm going to be sore tomorrow and I was sore last week, so it's quite frustrating really. I don't know if I'll ever be the same as I was, which is quite frustrating to train and come twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday, so I always used to feel like I got an edge by being fitter than everybody and I don't know if I can do that anymore.

"It's quite frustrating, and I have to say, the last couple of weeks I've been thinking at the end of the season I'll just call it a day altogether.

"I don't like making decisions when I'm emotional because after the Exeter game I only played 40 minutes and I was in bits on the Sunday and Monday but obviously scoring two goals [against Stevenage] does make you feel so much better, but we'll see what happens.

"It’s a weird one you know, I came over here when I was 16 and football is my identity almost, so when I wasn't playing there was something missing from me and I found it so, so difficult."

And, while admitting that he would have preferred to stay on another "three or four" years, he said that he is looking forward to the next stage of his life.

"I knew I had to get back out on the pitch and it’s probably helped me for the day when I do have to eventually call it a day, whenever that may be, whether it’s the end of the season or a bit longer because I’ve almost coped with it," he said.

"I’m a little bit more philosophical about it.

"I’m almost excited about the next part of what I do in my future. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to play for another three or four years but I don’t want to hobble around all week, really struggling and not being the same.

"I’d like to think I’ve always had a good impact when I’ve played over the last six or seven years, I’ve always been one of the better players and I don’t want to be struggling and being a sub and not performing to the standards that I expect of myself."

And he had lined some things up for his post-football career. He has been doing his coaching badges, and is currently finishing off his A Licence, while studying a degree in psychology on the side to ensure that when the time finally comes to call it a day that he is never just sitting at home again.

"I’ve been doing my coaching badges, I’m just finishing my A License and I’m studying a degree in psychology,” he said.

“But it’s part time and it takes six years so I’m starting my fourth year.

"It’s six years as it’s parts time, I have my kids and football as well so I started it three years ago and just finished the third year. I want to stay involved in football in the long term.

"I was thinking I’d have it finished by time I stopped playing but it might come sooner but I want to be ready for when I’m done playing.

“I don’t want there to be a time when I’m sitting at home not knowing what I’m going to do with myself."